Photo: @pavi_thra_ / UnsplashKerala
Kerala, India
Backwaters, tea hills, spice gardens, and cliff beaches, all within a few hours of each other. Kerala is one of India's easiest states to travel independently.
- Backpacker / day
- ₹1,800–2,800
- Mid-range / day
- ₹5,700–11,000
- Best time
- October to March
- Ideal length
- 7–10 days
Day by day
8-day itinerary
₹14,400–22,400per person on a backpacker budget (estimate), excluding travel to get there
- 1
Day 1: Fort Kochi
Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church, and cafés in the old quarter.
- 2
Day 2: Mattancherry and a Kathakali show
The Jew Town spice market, Paradesi Synagogue, and an evening Kathakali performance.
- 3
Day 3: Bus to Munnar
Climb into the tea hills; walk through the estates in the afternoon.
- 4
Day 4: Munnar
Eravikulam National Park for Nilgiri tahr (closed for calving around February–March), then a tea museum or a sunrise viewpoint.
- 5
Day 5: Thekkady
Spice plantation walk and a boat or guided walk in Periyar Tiger Reserve.
- 6
Day 6: Alleppey backwaters
A canoe or shikara through the narrow canals, or an overnight houseboat.
- 7
Day 7: Varkala
Train to Varkala; sunset on the North Cliff.
- 8
Day 8: Varkala beach day
Swim, rest, and fly out from Thiruvananthapuram (about an hour away).
When to go
- Jan★ Best
- Feb★ Best
- Mar★ Best
- Apr—
- May—
- Jun—
- Jul—
- Aug—
- Sep—
- Oct★ Best
- Nov★ Best
- Dec★ Best
October to March.
Money notes
An overnight houseboat is the big splurge: expect roughly ₹7,000–15,000 for a couple in season, meals included. A public ferry or a few hours in a shikara or canoe gives you the backwaters for a fraction of that.